Dear Parents,

This week we were met with the anticipation of Hurricane Nicole and the effects it would have on our area and other areas in our state. Taking precautions to ensure that all our students and their families would be safe, we shortened our already shortened week by another day. Thankfully, our area was not hard hit, as other areas in our diocese were not as fortunate.

I originally thought I would utilize Thursday as an opportunity to sort and clean out closets in my home, as I try to do this a couple of times a year, and maybe watch a movie. I however, experienced the absence of electricity mid-morning instead. It was at them time that I realized a multitude of things-such as the absence of light in my main closet, thoughts of what might become of the food in the refrigerator, and the need for an alternative plan. As I reached the four hour threshold where the need to determine what next for the actual food in the refrigerator came about, I reached out to a friend who told me I could bring the food to them to place in their refrigerator. Another friend offered her home should we need a place to sleep if the conditions at our house necessitated such. And, since the weather had tempered down with the winds not quite so rough, I was still able to meet friends in town for dinner and enjoy a couple of hours in the cool air and light! This kept my thoughts towards that of thankfulness. I was grateful that I had a support system that cared and I knew that I was in a much better place than some, during this storm.

As we are nearing Thanksgiving, I feel it is fitting to both discuss with our students at school and with you here, just how important our giving thanks to God for all we have and sharing that thankfulness with others in word and deed really impacts the world around us. We are working tirelessly with our students to teach, model and encourage them to look for the positives in each other and in every situation.

I hope that all of you fared well in the storm and find the extra time with your families, a time to be grateful. We here at Epiphany Catholic School thank and pray for those of you and all others who are currently serving in the military and have served in the military for yours and their service on this, Veterans Day.

Have a safe and thankful weekend.

Yours In Christ,

Rita M. Klenk

"In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." 1Thessalonians 5:18

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." G.K. Chesterton